Wall panel assembly



Jan. 3, 1967 J. E. DOUGLASS 3,295,257

WALL PANEL ASSEMBLY Filed March 12, 1965 '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig./

INVENTOR,

Jackson E. Douglass BY ifl CD645) Attorneys Jan. 3, 1967 J. E DOUGLASSWALL PANEL ASSEMBLY '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 12, 1965 s a g m g mE! W D m m E n O S k m w J 24 Y B M w w u w M mggw Jan. 3, 1967 .1. E.DOUGLASS 3,295,257

WALL PANEL ASSEMBLY Filed March 12, 1965 7 Sheets-Sheet '5 INVENTOR.

Jackson E. Douglass Attorneys Jan. 3, 1967 J. E. DOUGLASS WALL PANELASSEMBLY 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 12, 1965 INVENTOR.

Jackson E. Douglass BY Attorneys Jan. 3, 1967 J, DOUGLASS 3,295,257

WALL PANEL ASSEMBLY Filed March 12, 1965 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig. 13

' INVENTOR.

Jackson E. Douglass il/4 @za Attorneys J. E. DOUGLASS WALL PANELASSEMBLY Jan. 3, 1967 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed March 12, 1965 INVENTOR.

BY Jackson E. Douglass Attorneys Jan. 3, 1967 J. E. DOUGLASS 3,295,257

WALL PANEL ASSEMBLY Filed March 12, 1965 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR.

Jackson E. Douglass BY Attorneys United States Patent C) 3,295,257 WALLPANEL ASSEMBLY Jackson E. Douglass, San Lorenzo, Calif, assignor, by

mesue assignments, to Hough Manufacturing Corporation, a corporation ofConnecticut Filed Mar. 12, 1965, Ser. No. 439,272 4 Claims. (Cl. 49-317)This invention relates to a wall panel assembly of the type adapted tobe releasably positioned to extend between spaced parallel roomsurfaces, such as the fioor and ceiling of rooms in order to subdividethe space thereof. Releasably positionable wall panel assemblies mayinclude so called operable walls and demountable walls. The formergenerally refers to that style of wall which is operable between twopositions respectively subdividing a room into smaller units orproviding enlargement of a room space by moving the wall temporarily outof the way. A demountable wall generally refers to that type of wallwherein panels are manhandled into position and locked in place underconditions where it is not anticipated that rem-oval of the wall will berequired often.

It is a general object of the invention to provide an improved wallpanel assembly which can be readily releasably locked in place so as tosubdivide room spaces conveniently.

It is another object of the invention to provide improved locking meansfor readily releasably locking a wall panel assembly between spaced roomsurfaces.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved wall panelassembly of simplified design and entailing an economy of parts wherebyexpense of construction can be minimized.

These and other objects of the invention will be more readily apparentfrom the following detailed description of preferred embodimentsaccording to the invention when taken in conjunction with the followingdrawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing an operable wall in accordancewith one embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an elevation section view of a panel as shown in FIGURE 1taken along the line 22 showing the actuator mechanism in its releasedcondition;

FIGURE 3 is an elevation view of a side edge of the panel shown inFIGURE 6 looking in the direction of line 3-3;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 showing the actuator mechanism inits locked position;

FIGURE 5 is a detailed view in section taken along the line 5-5 ofFIGURE 6;

FIGURE 6 is a front elevation view in section of a panel as shown inFIGURE 1 taken along the line 66 thereof;

FIGURE 7 is an elevation section view of a portion of an adjacent panelarranged to cooperate with the panel shown in FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a plan view in section of FIGURES 6 and 7 when joinedtogether as viewed along line 88 thereof;

FIGURE 9 is a detail plan section view of an acoustically sealed seam ofFIGURES 6 and 7 when joined together taken along line 99 thereof;

FIGURE 10 is a detail plan view in section of a door jamb portion of apanel taken along the line 1ll10 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 11 is a plan view in section of an end. panel for abutment to asupport column;

FIGURE 12 is an enlarged detail perspective view showing extensible plugmeans for closing the corners. of a panel;

"ice

FIGURE 13 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of theinvention;

FIGURE 14 is a front elevation view in section taken along the line14-44 of FIGURE 13;

FIGURE 15 is an end view in section taken along the line 15Jl5 of FIGURE14;

FIGURE 16 is a front elevation view in section of a portion of a paneladjacent to the panel shown in FIG- URE 14 and adapted to cooperatetherewith;

FIGURE 17 is an enlarged detail view in perspective of anotherembodiment of the releasable connecting means for coupling one crank rodto the next; and

FIGURES l8 and 19 show another embodiment according to the invention andare respectively a front elevation section and end elevation section(taken along the line 19l9).

In general as will be developed below in more par ticular detail, thereis provided a wall panel assembly which includes a frame adapted to beenclosed by sheets of material. A locking apparatus is provided whichcomprises essentially a grip member or shoe adapted to be disposed at anend of the panel where it can move between retracted and projectedpositions. A rotatable radius link is adapted to be rotated betweenfirst and second positions so as to move the grip member from retractedto projected positions thereof. An elongated resilient force translatingdevice, consisting essentially of another link and spring means arrangedin tandem, serves to transmit the thrust from the radius link to thegrip member and, by arranging the radius link whereby the connection tothe force translating device passes through advanced dead center, thespring acting in co operation with a fixed stop, serves to provide anovercenter locking of the linkage thereby retaining the grip member inits projected position.

According to one embodiment of the invention there is shown in FIGURE 18a demountable wall panel 20 of a type adapted to be arranged inside-by-side relation to other such panels to form a readily releasablewall construction for partitioning rooms.

A rectangular frame assembly comprises, in general, spaced parallelupright channel bars 21, 22 of a type characterized by a generallyU-shaped transverse cross-section wherein a web portion 23 joins opposedside portions 24. The ends of the frame are generally constructed bysimilar U-shaped channel bars 26, 27. Two sheets 28, 29 are held spacedapart and attached to the opposed side portions 24 of each of the fourchannel bars.

Gripping means adapted to engage the floor of a room extend along thebottom edge of the panel. A U-shaped channel bar 31 embraces the outersurface of sheets 28, 29 and is attached to extend downwardly therefromby suitable means such as the wooden spacer blocks 32, 33 held togetherby screws as shown. The web 34 of channel bar 31 carries a resilienthigh friction gripping material 36 adapted to engage the floor of aroom.

At the upper end of the panel, means are provided for engaging a fixedregistration rib 37 secured upon a sta tionary member 33 presumed to bedisposed within a room.

A gripping assembly 3R is telescopically received within channel bar 27and movable between retracted and projected positions into and out ofengagement with the fixed member 38. Thus an inverted U-shaped shoe orgrip member 41 is formed to include a pair of spaced parallel feet 42each of which carries an elongated gripping strip 43 of high frictionmaterial and preferably of a ribbed. outer surface construction. Thebackside of gripping strips 43 is provided with a resilient barb whichextends the length of the strip. Strips 43 are therefore adapted to bepressed into longitudinally extending openings formed along each of thefeet 42 so as to be retained therein.

As grip member 41 moves to its projected position rib 37 will bereceived between and Wedge into engagement with the opposed side facesof each of the feet 42. In the event that a rib such as the rib 37 isunavailable the high friction strips 43 serve to grip the member 38 andretain the panel by friction contact rather than by the positive lockingprovided by rib 37.

Each end of grip member 41 is closed by an extensible plug assemblyincluding a T-shaped closure portion 44 disposed with the stem of the Tslidably positioned between the sides of a U-shaped closure portion 46.The two closure portions 44, 46 are preferably of a plastic whereby theywill be substantially self-lubricating surfaces in order to permit theends of the grip member 41 to move freely with minimal restraint. Thebackside of the T-shaped portion 44 includes a well 47 adapted toreceive an L-shaped insert 48 of suitable metal which provides rigidityto the outer face of portion 44. The insert 48 is fastened, as by ascrew, to the web 49 which extends between feet 42. Accordingly theT-shaped portion 44 is carried upwardly with projectiong movement ofgrip member 41. The U-shaped closure portion 46 is suitably secured asby a screw to the web of channel bar 27 whereby it remains fixed to theframe during the projected movement of the T-shaped closure portion 44(FIG. 12).

Means are provided for moving grip member 41 between retracted andprojected positions and for locking grip member 41 in its projectedposition in contact relation with the stationary member 38.

Thus a rotatable radius link, swing arm, or clevis 51 is mounted forrotation between the side bands 52 of a bale-shaped strap 53. Strap 53is retained in an opening formed in the web of channel bar 27substantially mid-way between the ends of grip member 41. The upper endsof the two side bands 52 are bent outwardly to form ears adapted to bescrewed tightly against channel bar 27.

Clevis 51 is supported for movement between first and second positionsto move the grip member 41 respectively from retracted to advancedpositions as now to be described.

Thus an elongated resilient force translating device consistingessentially of a connecting link or compression member 54 and a coilspring 56 carried within an elongated sleeve or open ended tubularhousing 58 serves to transmit an upward drive force imparted by rotationof clevis 51 counterclockwise as shown. One end of the resilient forcetranslating device as described is coupled to the clevis by means of apivot pin 57 and the other end is connected to the web of grip member 41by a snap ring 59 encircling a boss 61 disposed to extend through anopening in the web of grip member 41. Connecting link 54 is free toslide longitudinally along sleeve 58 and carries a spring seat forengaging spring 56.

Sleeve 58 is carried between the side bands 52 of strap 53 wherebycounter-clockwise movement of clevis 51 serves to pivot the forcetranslating device between the side bands 52.

Clevis 51 is rotated as by means of a removable crank 62 having a crankrod 63 of hexagonal cross-section adapted to extend through an openingin one of the sheets 28, 29 and into a hexagonal female opening formedin the axle supporting clevis 51. Rotation of rod 63 serves to rotateclevis 51 from a retracted position to an advanced position defined bythe fixed stop pin 64 extending between the side bands 52 of strap 53.Stop pin 64 engages a detent 66 formed in each side of clevis 51. It isto be noted that in order for detent 66 to engage stop pin 64, theconnecting pin 57 must be carried across a plane extending betwen theaxis of rotation of clevis 51 and the pivot point in the region of boss61. Accordingly, as clevis 51 is rotated counter-clockwise, grip member41 will be projected against the stationary member 38 whereby spring 56will become compressed and, as the connecting pin 57 passes throughadvanced dead center, the spring 56 will urge clevis 51 against thefixed stop 64 and lock grip member 41 in its projected position.

Operation of a panel assembly 20 and its installation is as follows:

A crank 62 is inserted into the hexagonal female opening 65 formed inthe axle of clevis 51. The crank is turned in order to retract gripmember 41 whereby the overall height of the panel assembly 20 is at aminimum. The upper edge of panel assembly 20 is aligned with rib 37disposed to lie along the valley formed between the opposed side facesof feet 42.

By turning crank 62 to move clevis 51 counter-clockwise, as shown,connecting link 54 will be driven upwardly and carry grip member 41 intoengagement with the wedge shaped side faces of rib 37 and carry the highfriction feet 43 into engagement with the stationary portion 38. As gripmember 41 is urged upwardly against the upper stationary wall surface,the bottom of the panel assembly 20 will be pressed against the floor.Further counterclockwise rotation of clevis 51 continues until arrestedby the fixed stop 64. At that time the connecting pin 57 has passedthrough its advanced dead center position whereby spring 56 serves toreleasably lock the panel assembly 20 in position.

After having installed one of the demountable wall panels 20 furtherpanels of like construction are positioned in abutting side-by-siderelation thereto until a dividing wall has been constructed as desired.

In order to form a snug seam between adjacent panel assemblies 20 theextensible closure formed by the T- and U-shaped portions 44, 46 isformed with a serrated face having longitudinally extending ridges andvalleys adapted to engage the ridges and valleys of adjacent wallpanels. After each wall panel is positioned in place the cranks 62 areremoved and the opening through which crank rod '63 penetrated the panelassembly is closed by a decorative button pressed into the opening.

According to another embodiment an operable wall for partitioning a roomis provided, as now to be described with particular reference to FIGURES1 through 12.

The operable wall shown in FIGURE 1 includes six panel assemblies 70 ingroups of three wherein each of the three panel assemblies of each groupare hinged to fold accordion style and supported to be rolled out of theway at one side of a stationary truss portion 71 of the room beingpartitioned. Side columns 72, 73 are located at each end of the trussportion 71. The frame of a panel 70 includes channel bars 74, 76 atopposite ends of the panel assembly 70. The sides of the frame areformed generally by channel bars 77, 78. Channel bars 74, 76 aredisposed to provide a recess along the top and bottom of each panelassembly 70, whereas channel bars 77, 78 are arranged with the webportion of each outermost. Sheets of material '79, 81 form the inner andouter faces of each panel assembly 70.

Each panel is hung to be rolled along a track member 82 formed, forexample, as an extrusion including wings 83 adapted to be secured alongthe lower edge of the truss portion 71. Track member 82 includes a pairof opposed ledges 84 spaced at their distal ends to provide a guidewaytherebetween. The upper sides of ledges 84 are formed to include a trackor groove 86 adapted to engage and guide rollers 87 therealong.

Means forming a carriage adapted to permit each panel assembly 70 topivot about an axis lying substantially coplanar lwithin the panelassembly 70 includes the downwardly depending threaded stem 88journalled at its upper end in a sleeve 89 and at its lower endsupporting the weight of the panel assembly 70 by t-hreadably engaging amounting bracket 91 (as in FIGURE 14). Mounting bracket 91 is fixed tothe upper channel bar 76. Thus when grip member 94 is in its retractedposition Within channel bar 76 the panel assembly 70 is free to rotateabout the axis defined by stem 88. The panel assembly can also be rolledalong tracks 86 guided by a plastic or other self-lubricating collar 92moving along the guideway formed between the distal ends of ledges 84.Rollers 87 are supported upon axles journalled within the carriagefurther comprising the pair of plates 93.

At each end of the panel assembly 70 a grip member 94 is telescopicallyreceived respectively within channel bars 74, 7 6 for movement betweenretracted and projected positions. Grip members 94- are of generallysimilar construction to the previously described grip member 41. It willbe noted however that a sleeve or open ended tubular housing 96 isimmovably fixed to each of the grip members 94 and carries a spring 97housed therein to form part of a resilient elongated force translatingdevice which further includes a connecting link or compression member98. Link 98 is sufliciently long with respect to the diameter of thesleeve 96 whereby sleeve 96 need not be pivoted at its connected end andcarries a spring seat for engaging spring 97 (see FIGURES 2 and 4). Thusthe pair of connecting links 98 within each panel assembly 71 serve tourge an associated grip member 94 at the top and bottom of each panelassembly outwardly therefrom. As grip members 94 respectively engage thefloor and the underside of ledges 84, further rotation of the radiuslink or swing arm 99 serves to compress springs 97 until the connectingpins 101, 102 pass respectively through their bottom dead center and topdead center positions.

The radius link 99 is formed as a double clevis construction andincludes a hexagonal opening 103 therethrough. Opening 103 is adapted toreceive a reach rod 104- to be rotated by a crank 1% splined upon theend thereof.

Rod 104- includes a round relieved portion 104a. Crank 106 includes acylindrical bore portion 1116a formed within a sleeve 107. The outer endof sleeve 107 includes a hexagonal interior 107a to engage the hexagonalend 105 of rod 104 whenever crank 106 is withdrawn and splined theretofor rotating rod 104. After rotation is complete, crank 1% slidesforward on rod 104 for radial alignment between portion 197:: andportion 1114a as well as between here portion 1116a and end 165.

Thus, crank 106 includes a sleeve portion 107 which is formed with ahexagonal bore adapted to cooperate with reach rod 104. Crank 166, whennot in use, is recessed into the side edge of panel assembly 70. When itis desired to rotate the crank rod 104, crank 1116 is moved to itsphantom line position as shown in FIGURE 6. A snap ring 108 serves tolimit the degree to which the crank 106 may be withdrawn from its recessor pocket 109. Crank rod 164 is journalled at the crank end in anopening 111 formed in the web 112 of a U-shaped channel plate 113.

Means are provided at the other end of reach rod 104 forming a fixedstop for the rotation of rod 104 so as to define the projected positionof grip members 94 at a position whereby the connecting pins 101, 1112will move through their respective advanced dead center positions. Thus,as shown best in FIGURES 3 and 5 a fixed stop defining the projectedposition of grip members 94 is arranged and adapted to receive theurging of springs 97 transmitted thereto via the radius link 99 when thegrip members '94 have been projected against stationary surfaces.

Accordingly, a rotatable wedge member 114 is mounted to rotate withreach rod 1% (see FIGURE 6) and is formed at each end with a curvedwedge surface 116 (see FIGURES 3 and 5) adapted to engage the opposedinner faces of the side of a substantially rigid channel member 117having a U-shaped transverse cross-section. Channel member 117 isrecessed in an edge of the panel assembly 70. Channel member 117 ispreferably formed of a ma- 6 terial such as steel and the wedge member114 of a softer material such as aluminum whereby the opposed side facesof channel member 117 provide a wear plate for the respective ends 116of member 114.

Access to wedge member 114 is provided by an elongated opening 118formed in the web of channel bar 78.

Accordingly, where it is desired to introduce slight variances withrespect to the locked position of grip members 94, the wedge member 11 1can be slid longitudinally along reach rod 104 out through opening 118to a point where, for example, the wedge surface 116 can be filed toprovide a close adjustment of the projected locked position for themembers 94.

The foregoing described actuator mechanism is suitable for use withpanel assemblies 70 of various thicknesses. Thus, as shown in FIGURE 8,spacers 119 accommodate variations in the thicknesses of the channelbars '7 8 and the like whereby notwithstanding an increase in thicknessof the panel assembly 71) the same actuator mechanism can be employed.

In order to construct a wall as shown in FIGURE 1 comprised of panelassemblies 70, as described, each panel assembly 70 is hinged alongdiagonally opposite side edges thereof on opposite sides of the plane ofthe panel assembly. Thus, a hinge 121 runs along one side edge of thepanel assembly with the leaves of the hinge being secured to theopposing faces of the webs of channels bars 77, 78.

Means are provided to form an acoustic seal along each joint betweenadjacent panel assemblies. Thus, as shown for example in FIGURE 9, theconfronting channel bars 77, 78 are each formed with an elongated slothaving inwardly converging sides 122 which merge at their con verginginner ends with a tubuiar opening 123. A rubber sealing strip 124 isformed with a transverse crosssection resembling a tuning fork whereby apair of leaves are adapted to be wedged into the groove formed by theinwardly converging sides 122. The stem portion of strip 124 includes apair of resilient ribs 126 which, when forced through the throat formedbetween tubular opening 123 and sides 122, serves to anchor the: sealingstrip 124 in position. Further acoustic sealing is provided by the foamrubber strips 127 secured to run along the opposed webs of channel bars77, 78.

In a wall construction of the type shown in FIGURE 1, means are providedwhereby the individual locking means and actuator assemblies of each ofthe panel assemblies 79 can be simultaneously actuated by a singlecrank. Thus, one of the panel assemblies 711 will include a crank 106whereas the remainder of the panel assemblies 70 hinged thereto areprovided with a non-rotatable inter-connecting, slotted sleeve 128 forinterengagement with a ball joint 129 carrying a cross pin 131. Theslotted sleeve 12% serves to cause its associated reach rod 104 torotate by means of the slot 132 and pin 133 whenever the sleeve 123 isrotated. Sleeve 12%; is spring urged outwardly along reach rod 1614 andslidably mounted thereon whereby when ball joint 129 has been swung intothe throat of sleeve 128 inter-engagement is readily effected withoutcritical alignment problems. Thereafter, rotation of crank 1% serves torotate reach rod 104 of all panel assemblies id arranged to form a wallas in FIG- URE 1.

In forming a wall as shown in FIGURE 1 it will be readily evident thatcertain additional details, have been provided as shown in FIGURES 10and 11.

The panel assembly 70 adapted to abut the support column 72 (FIGURE 1)is formed without a ball joint and cross pin, as shown in FIGURE 11 atthe left end thereof.

A door jamb construction is shown in FIGURE 10 whereby the right handvertical channel bar 77 has been replaced by an extrusion of specialconfiguration to include a protruding lip or jamb portion 134.

Another embodiment of an operable wall is shown in '2" FIGURE 13utilizing panel assemblies 140. Panel assemblies 140 are shown in moreparticular detail in FIG- URES 14 through 16 as now to be described.

A reach rod 141 is arranged to rotate a radius link 142 betweenretracted and projected positions so as to move a grip member 41 to aprojected position whereby the high friction strips 43 engage the underside of ledges 84. Following initial engagement between strips 43 andledges 34, further rotation of the radius link 1422 will serve tocompress a spring carried within the sleeve 143 comparable in functionto the sleeve 96 previously described. By making suitable adjustment inthe gap 144, a clamping action can be imparted between strips 43engaging one face of ledges 84 and the resilient rollers 87 engaging theobverse side thereof. Thus, it is preferred that rollers 87 are of asuitable resilient mate-rial such as rubber or plastic and preferablyentail a self-lubricating characteristic as found in various plastics.

Accordingly, the nut 14-6 can be adjusted to vary the gap 144 so as tovary the degree of clamping action desired.

From the foregoing, it will be readily evident that as the gap 144 isreduced, a greater proportion of the weight of each panel assembly 140will be transferred to the rollers 87 rather than being supported by thefloor of the room, and the panel assembly 140 will be primarily retainedby the clamping action between rollers 87 and the high friction strips43. On the other hand, widening the gap 144 will serve to maintain thewall panel 140 primarily by the forces exerted outwardly thereof by thegrip member 41 acting against the underside of ledges S4 and the forceacting downwardly against the floor through the high friction foot 147.

As previously described, a slotted sleeve 128 and a ball joint 129 serveto translate the locking movement from one reach rod to the next betweenadjacent panel assemblies.

As shown, however, in FIGURE 17, a splined coupling of simplified designwhich eliminates various of the parts previously noted is provided.Thus, the end of a hexagonal crank rod, such as rod 104, is adapted toenter a hexagonal opening 148 formed axially in a cylindrical sleeve 149secured to the adjacent end of a comparable crank rod 104.

From the foregoing description, it will be readily apparent that therehas been provided an improved wall panel assembly characterized bysimplicity of design and improved features and advantages wherebydemountable and operable wall partitions can be readily arranged.

For example, it will be readily obvious that by providing a grip membersupported centrally between its longitudinal ends by means allowing thegrip member to tip slightly about a transverse axis, such as the axis60, through the upper end of protrusion 61 (FIGURE 18) or the axisthrough the retainer pin the opposite ends of the grip member willadjust upon pressure contact of one end or the other with a stationarywall surface. By virtue of the extensible unrestrained ends of the gripmember, it will be apparent that devices for maintaining parallelismduring projected movement are unnecessary.

I claim:

1. In a wall panel assembly having a panel adapted to be releasablypositioned to extend between spaced parallel room surfaces, lockingapparatus comprising a grip member adapted to be disposed at an end ofthe panel and movable between retracted and projected positions, arotatable member adapted to be disposed between the ends of the panel,means supporting said rotatable member for movement between first andsecond positions to move the grip member respectively from retracted toadvanced positions, elongated resilient force translating means, one endof the elongated resilient force translating means being connected tosaid rotatable member at a point spaced from the axis of rotationthereof, the other end of said force translating means being connectedto said grip member, means to move said rotatable member to said secondposition thereof and means to lock the rotatable member thereat so as toproject and retain said grip member at its advanced position, the lastnamed means including limit means forming a positive stop to define saidsecond position, said stop being disposed to permit said one end of theforce translating means to pass through advanced dead center in movingsaid rotatable member between said first and second positions, saidlimit means including stop means mounted to rotate with said rotatablemember, and a stationary abutment lying substantially normal to theplane of rotation of the stop means in the path thereof to be engagedthereby and limit rotation of the stop means, said stop means includinga member having a wedge surface at one end thereof, and a substantiallyrigid channel member of U-shaped transverse cross-section adapted to berecessed in an edge of the panel with one of the opposed sides of saidchannel member being disposed and adapted to be engaged by the wedgesurface of said stop member thereby forming said abutment.

2. A wall panel assembly comprising means forming a wall panel adaptedto be releasably positioned to extend between spaced parallel roomsurfaces, locking apparatus carried by said panel and comprising a gripmember adapted to be disposed at an end of the panel and movable betweenretracted and projected positions to engage one of the room surfaces,grip means at the other end of the panel adapted to engage the other ofthe spaced room surfaces, a rotatable radius link adapted to be disposedbetween the ends of the panel, means supporting said link for movementbetween first and second positions to move the grip member respectivelyfrom retracted to advance positions, an elongated resilient forcetranslating device consisting essentially of another link and springmeans coupled to extend longitudinally therewith, one end of theelongated force translating device being connected to said radius link,the other end of said device being connected to said grip member, acrank rod connected to rotate said radius link to said second positionand means to lock said radius link thereat so as to project and retainsaid grip member at its advanced position, the last named meansincluding a wear plate secured to said panel adjacent an edge thereof,and a stop member carried by and rotatable with said crank rod to berotated into abutting relation with the wear plate, a journal member ofU-shaped channel bar including web and opposed side portions, said webof the journal member extending along and recessed from an edge of saidpanel, an opening through the web receiving said rod between saidopposed side portions, and a stop member having a wedge surface at oneend thereof, said stop member being mounted to rotate with said rod tomove said wedge surface into abutting relation with one of said opposedside portions.

3. An operable panel type partition arrangement comprising:

a panel proportioned lengthwise thereof to extend between upper andlower room surfaces,

a grip member at the upper and lower ends of said panel,

said grip members being movable with respect thereto between retractedand projected positions,

said grip members when disposed in their projected positions beingadapted to engage said surfaces so as to secure said panel therein whensaid grip members are urged against the surfaces,

and means for simultaneously moving said grip members from theirretracted positions to their projected positions,

said moving means comprising:

a swing arm mounted within said panel for swinging movement in avertical plane and about an axis extending in coplanar relation withsaid panel,

said swing arm being journalled intermediate its ends,

each of said grip members having connected thereto an elongate tubularhousing adjacent the longitudinal axis of the panel,

said housings being secured to the respective grip members at one end ofthe respective housings and each including a compression spring receivedtherein adjacent their said one ends,

each of said housings having received therein one end of an elongatecompression member seated against the compression spring containedtherein,

with the other ends of said compression members being operably connectedto opposite ends of said swing arm,

means for pivoting said swing arm for its swinging movement from oneedge of said panel,

said swing arm being movable between a first position in which the endsthereof are on either side of the plane extending substantially parallelto the plane of said panel and passing through the points of connectionof said housings to the respective grip members in which said gripmembers are in their retraeted positions to a second position in whichthe ends thereof are respectively disposed on the other sides of thefirst mentioned plane in which position said grip members are in theirretracted positions to a second position in which the ends thereof arerespectively disposed on the other sides of the first mentioned plane inwhich position said grip members are in their projected positions,

and means for releasably holding said swing arm in its said secondposition against the action of said springs to lock said grip members intheir projected positions in engagement with the respective roomsurfaces.

4. A demountable panel type partition arrangement comprising:

a panel proportioned lengthwise thereof to extend between upper andlower room surfaces,

a grip member at the upper end of said panel and movable with respectthereto between retracted and projected positions,

the lower end of said panel being adapted to rest on the lower roomsurface,

a swing arm mounted Within said panel for swinging movement about anaxis extending transversely of said panel,

said axis being located adjacent the longitudinal axis of the panel,

an elongate tubular housing swingably connected at one end thereof tothe grip member adjacent the longitudinal axis of the panel,

a compression spring received in said housing adjacent said one end ofsaid housing,

an elongate compression member having one end thereof received in saidhousing and seated against said spring and the other end thereofoperably connected to said swing arm at a point spaced from its saidswinging axis,

said housing extending short of said swing arm axis of rotation and saidcompression member extending outwardly of said housing,

means for rotating said swing arm through the plane extendingtransversely of said panel along its said longitudinal axis and in thedirection required to pass the connection between said compressionmember and said swing arm through said plane between said swing arm axisof rotation and said tubular housing,

said swing arm being movable between a first position on one side ofsaid plane in which said grip member is in its retracted position to asecond position on the other side of said plane in which said gripmember is in its projected position,

and means for releasably holding said swing arm in its said secondposition against the action of said spring to lock said grip member inits projected position and secure said panel in place between the roomsurfaces when placed therebetween.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,966,706 1/ 1961Christensen 160-40 X 3,072,975 1/1963 Burmeister 20-68 X 3,195,1927/1965 Neisewander 2068 X HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner. KENNETHDOWNEY, Examiner.

1. IN A WALL PANEL ASSEMBLY HAVING A PANEL ADAPTED TO BE RELEASABLYPOSITIONED TO EXTEND BETWEEN SPACED PARALLEL ROOM SURFACES, LOCKINGAPPARATUS COMPRISING A GRIP MEMBER ADAPTED TO BE DISPOSED AT AN END OFTHE PANEL AND MOVABLE BETWEEN RETRACTED AND PROJECTED POSITIONS, AROTATABLE MEMBER ADAPTED TO BE DISPOSED BETWEEN THE ENDS OF THE PANEL,MEANS SUPPORTING SAID ROTATABLE MEMBER FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN FIRST ANDSECOND POSITIONS TO MOVE THE GRIP MEMBER RESPECTIVELY FROM RETRACTED TOADVANCED POSITIONS, ELONGATED RESILIENT FORCE TRANSLATING MEANS, ONE ENDOF THE ELONGATED RESILIENT FORCE TRANSLATING MEANS BEING CONNECTED TOSAID ROTATABLE MEMBER AT A POINT SPACED FROM THE AXIS OF ROTATIONTHEREOF, THE OTHER END OF SAID FORCE TRANSLATING MEANS BEING CONNECTEDTO SAID GRIP MEMBER, MEANS TO MOVE SAID ROTATABLE MEMBER TO SAID SECONDPOSITION THEREOF AND MEANS TO LOCK THE ROTATABLE MEMBER THEREAT SO AS TOPROJECT AND RETAIN SAID GRIP MEMBER AT ITS ADVANCED POSITION, THE LASTNAMED MEANS INCLUDING LIMIT MEANS FORMING A POSITIVE STOP TO DEFINE SAIDSECOND POSITION, SAID STOP BEING DISPOSED TO PERMIT SAID ONE END OF THEFORCE TRANSLATING MEANS TO PASS THROUGH ADVANCED DEAD CENTER IN MOVINGSAID ROTATABLE MEMBER BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND POSITIONS, SAIDLIMIT MEANS INCLUDING STOP MEANS MOUNTED TO ROTATE WITH SAID ROTATABLEMEMBER, AND A STATIONARY ABUTMENT LYING SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL TO THEPLANE OF ROTATION OF THE STOP MEANS IN THE PATH THEREOF TO BE ENGAGEDTHEREBY AND LIMIT ROTATION OF THE STOP MEANS, SAID STOP MEANS INCLUDINGA MEMBER HAVING A WEDGE SURFACE AT ONE END THEREOF, AND A SUBSTANTIALLYRIGID CHANNEL MEMBER OF U-SHAPED TRANSVERSE CROSS-SECTION ADAPTED TO BERECESSED IN AN EDGE OF THE PANEL WITH ONE OF THE OPPOSED SIDES OF SAIDCHANNEL MEMBER BEING DISPOSED AND ADAPTED TO BE ENGAGED BY THE WEDGESURFACE OF SAID STOP MEMBER THEREBY FORMING SAID ABUTMENT.